Receiver and filter and adsorbent unit therefor

ABSTRACT

An improved refrigerant receiver which includes an improved combined filter and adsorbent unit consisting of a filter extending outwardly from an elongated tube which is mounted on a refrigerant outlet conduit of the receiver and which has an outer edge with the wall of the receiver so that all refrigerant must pass through the filter, and at least one container of adsorbent material mounted within the receiver so as to be exposed to the flow of refrigerant passing through the filter without completely obstructing the portion of the receiver through which this flow passes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 09/258,360, filed Feb. 26, 1999.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved combined filter andadsorbent unit for a refrigerant receiver and to an improved receivercontaining a combination of a filter and an adsorbent unit.

By way of background, there are numerous types of filters and adsorbentunits used in combination in a receiver of a refrigeration system.However, many filters are small units located over the inlet to theoutlet conduit of the receiver, and thus have a relatively small areafor filtration, and this small area overlies the relatively small areaof the opening of the outlet conduit so that there could be restrictionof refrigerant flow in this area. Additionally, there are in existencedonut types of adsorbent units which occupy the entire cross sectionalarea of the receiver and through which all flow must pass. However,sealing of the filter has either been relatively complex or inefficient.It is with the foregoing deficiencies of the prior art that the presentinvention is concerned.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide animproved combined filter and adsorbent unit which can be installed in areceiver in a simple and unique manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedrefrigerant receiver having a filter and an adsorbent unit uniquelycontained therein. Other objects and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will readily be perceived hereafter.

The present invention relates to a combined filter and adsorbent unitcomprising an elongated tubular member, a filter extending transverselyoutwardly from said elongated tubular member, and a container ofadsorbent material secured relative to said elongated tubular member.

The present invention also relates to an improved refrigerant receiverhaving a housing, a wall on said housing, a refrigerant inlet on saidhousing, a refrigerant outlet on said housing, an elongated refrigerantoutlet conduit extending lengthwise of said housing in communicationwith said refrigerant outlet, and a refrigerant-receiving opening insaid elongated refrigerant outlet conduit, the improvement comprising anelongated tube mounted about said elongated refrigerant outlet conduit,a filter extending transversely outwardly from said elongated tube andpositioned between said refrigerant inlet and said refrigerant-receivingopening in said elongated refrigerant outlet conduit, an outer edge onsaid filter in contiguous relationship with said wall, and at least onecontainer of adsorbent material in said housing.

The present invention will be more fully understood when the followingportions of the specification are read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a refrigerant receiver of arefrigerant system taken substantially along line 1—1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 2—2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view takensubstantially along line 3—3 of FIG. 2 and showing an O-ring sealbetween the filter and the wall of the receiver housing;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 4—4 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 5—5 ofFIG. 1 and showing the yoke connection between the two adsorbentcontainers;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3but showing another form of filter;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 1 and showing anotherembodiment wherein only one adsorbent container is secured to theelongated tube mounted on the elongated outlet conduit of the receiver;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a portion of FIG. 1showing still another embodiment wherein a pair of adsorbent containersare mounted loosely in the refrigerant receiver;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a filter;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the assembledfilter components of FIG. 9 staked to an elongated tube and mountedwithin a refrigerant receiver of the type shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of another type of filter which can be mounted onan elongated tube which is mounted on a tube in a receiver;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 12—12of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially alongline 13—13 of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Summarizing briefly in advance, the present invention relates to animproved combined filter and adsorbent unit for use in a receiver and toan improved receiver which includes a filter and adsorbent unit uniquelyassociated therewith.

The refrigerant receiver portion 9 of the combined refrigerantreceiver-filter-adsorbent unit 10 includes a housing 12 having acylindrical wall 13 and a bottom 14. A cap or cover 18 is located at thetop of cylindrical wall 13 and is suitably sealed thereto. An inletfitting 15 is in communication with conduit 17 in cover 18 which leadsto chamber 19 located above filter 20. A refrigerant outlet conduit 21has its upper end suitably affixed in fluid-tight relationship withcover 18, and it is in communication with conduit 22 within cover 18which leads to receiver outlet fitting 23. Refrigerant outlet conduit 21has an opening 24 at the bottom thereof which is in communication withchamber 25 which is below filter 20. The refrigerant flow throughreceiver 10 is from inlet fitting 15, through conduit 17, throughchambers 19 and 25, into opening 24 at the bottom of refrigerant outletconduit 21, through refrigerant outlet conduit 21, through conduit 22 incover 18 and out of refrigerant outlet fitting 23. All of the foregoingparts exclusive of the combined filter and adsorbent unit 10 are knownand the above-described refrigerant flow path is conventional in theart.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there areprovided a filter and an adsorbent unit in the refrigerant flow paththrough the receiver for the purpose of both filtering the refrigerantand adsorbing moisture therefrom thus resulting in an improved receiverby virtue of having a filter and an adsorbent unit combined therewith ina unique manner.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a combinedfilter and adsorbent unit 11 wherein a filter 27 extends outwardly fromelongated tube 29 which is mounted on refrigerant outlet conduit 21 withan interference fit, with the upper annular edge 30 of elongated tube 29bearing against expanded annular portion 31 of conduit 21. The filter 27includes an upper disc 32 having perforations 33 therein. The outer edge34 of disc 32 is in the form of a depending rim having an annular groove35 therein. An O-ring 37 is located in annular groove 35 and provides aseal between edge 34 and wall 13 of housing 12. A second circular disc39 has an outer edge 40 which is pressed into the inner edge 41 of rim34, and disc 39 has a plurality of perforations 42 therein. Disc 39 mayhave the same number of perforations therein as does upper disc 27.Upper disc 27 has its inner edge fused to elongated tube 29, but it maybe separate therefrom and mounted thereon by a press-fit. The apertures33 of upper disc 27 and the apertures 42 of lower disc 39 need notnecessarily be aligned as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Positioned betweenupper disc 27 and lower disc 39 is filtering material 43. This materialis preferably polyester, but it may be any suitable filtering materialwhich will permit the refrigerant to pass therethrough without anobjectionable pressure drop while filtering impurities from therefrigerant. As can be seen from the drawings, the discs 27 and 39 arefabricated out of molded plastic. Considering the manner in which filter27 is positioned within cylindrical wall 13, all of the refrigerant inupper chamber 19 must pass through filter 27 in passing from upperchamber 19 to lower chamber 25. Furthermore, considering that tube 29 iselongated, it will maintain filter 27 against cocking within housingwall 13.

Further in accordance with the concept of the present invention, a pairof adsorbent containers 44 are located in chamber 25 below filter 27.Adsorbent containers 44 are of the type which are well known in the artsuch as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,447, which is incorporated hereinby reference. Basically, each adsorbent container 44 includes a casing45 of permeable material within which is a drying agent such asmolecular sieve or silica gel or any other type of adsorbent such asdescribed in the above-identified prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,447. Ayoke 48 connects adsorbent containers 44, and yoke 48 has a centralaperture 49 therein which receives elongated tube 29, and rim 50 isfused to elongated tube 29. Thus, two adsorbent containers 44 aresuspended from elongated tube 29 well above conduit inlet 24. As can beseen from FIG. 4, adsorbent containers 44 do not occupy the entire crosssection of the cylindrical housing 12 and thus the refrigerant passingthrough chamber 25 may pass around adsorbent containers 44 enroute toconduit opening 24.

The combined filter and adsorbent unit 11 is thus a unique entity whichcan be mounted in a conventional receiver of the above-described type tothereby convert it to the improved receiver.

In FIG. 6 a modified form of filter 27′ is shown. In this modificationthe upper disc 32′ has a rim 34′ which has a flexible annular lip 37′which provides a seal between rim 34′ and cylindrical wall 13. Exceptfor the configuration of annular rim 34′ and lip 37′, all parts offilter 27′ may be identical to filter 27 described in detail above.

In FIG. 7 a modified embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.All parts of FIG. 7 may be identical to those described above relativeto FIGS. 1-6, except that only a single adsorbent container 44 isdisclosed rather than two adsorbent containers 44 coupled together by ayoke 47. In the embodiment of FIG. 7 the adsorbent container 44 issecured to elongated tube 29 by a tab 52 having a central aperture 53,the rim 54 of which is fused to elongated tube 29.

In FIG. 8 a still further embodiment of the present invention isdisclosed wherein adsorbent containers 44 are not secured to elongatedtube 29 but are merely located within chamber 25. While two adsorbentcontainers 44 are shown in FIG. 8, it will be appreciated that,depending on the amount of desiccant which is required, only a singleadsorbent container may be used.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 another filter embodiment 27″ is disclosed. In thisembodiment two metal perforated discs 55 are shown having perforations57 therein which may be as shown in FIG. 2. The inner edges 60 of discs55 are mounted on elongated tube 29′ which is analogous to elongatedtube 29 of FIG. 1, and elongated tube 29′ is mounted on refrigerantoutlet conduit 21 as described above relative to FIG. 1. The discs 55are maintained in position on elongated tube 29′ by being locatedbetween an annular rim 61 and staked portions 62. A layer of filtermaterial 63 is compressed between discs 55 and the outer annular edge 64of the filter material extends beyond the outer edges 65 of discs 55 andserves as a seal between the filter 27″ and cylindrical wall 13 ofhousing 12. It will be appreciated that the filter embodiment 27″ may besubstituted for any of the filters shown in the preceding figures, andfurther that filter 27″ may be used with any embodiment of the adsorbentcontainers described above in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8.

In the above embodiments the filter material was sandwiched betweenmolded plastic discs and metal plates. However, the filter can be fusedto a grid-like plate such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,743, or it canbe contained in any suitable manner.

In FIGS. 11-13 a modified filter 122 a is shown. Filter 122 a is amodified version of end cover grid 22 a shown in FIGS. 15-17 of U.S.Pat. No. 5,718,743, and it is intended to be secured to an elongatedtube 129′ which corresponds to elongated tube 29′ of FIG. 10 of thatpatent or it can be secured to a tube such as 29 of FIG. 1 by fusion.Filter 122 a differs from end cover grid 22 a of U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,743in that it has an annular lip 140 which functions in the same manner asannular lip 37′ described above relative to FIG. 6. Filter 122 aincludes an outer annular rim 127 and an inner annular rim 129. Aplurality of crossmembers 130′ and 131′ extend substantiallyperpendicularly to each other and are molded to each other, and the griddefined by crossmembers 130′ and 131′ is molded between inner annularrim 29 and outer annular rim 127. The crossmembers 130′ and 131′ defineopen spaces 128′ therebetween. The crossmembers 130′ are formed in thecross sectional configuration shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. Morespecifically, crossmembers 130′ have outer triangular portions 132′which taper to a point and they also include triangular portions 133′which face the adsorbent containers 44. Crossmembers 131′ (FIG. 13) alsoinclude triangular portions 134′ and triangular portions 135′.Crossmembers 130′ and 131′ are molded to each other at junctions 138 aand 138′. Triangular portions 132′, 133′, 134′ and 135′ are airfoilconfigurations. In this respect, when the filter 122 a is installed,triangular portions 132′ and 134′ of the filter will be facing thedirection of flow, and triangular portions 133′ and 135′ will providetapered portions which provide reduced cross sections which will notimpede flow as much as wider sections. Filter 122 a will have an annularporous felt disc 123′ secured thereto in the same manner as described indetail relative to felt disc 23 in U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,743 which isincorporated herein by reference. This mode of securement is set forthin that patent in column 3, lines 33-46, and in column 4, line 66, tocolumn 5, line 9. While FIGS. 11-13 show only an embodiment which is amodification of FIGS. 15-17 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,743, it will beappreciated that the other embodiments of the end cover grids shown inU.S. Pat. No. 5,718,743 may also be modified and used as filters in thecombination of the present invention. The filter 122 a can be part of acombination structure such as shown in FIG. 1 wherein a plurality ofadsorbent containers 44 and the filter 122 a are secured to an elongatedtube such as 29 which is mounted on a pipe such as 21, or the filter 122a may be part of a combination such as shown in FIG. 7 where both thefilter and a single adsorbent container are secured to an elongated tubesuch as 29, or the filter 122 a can be part of a combination such asshown in FIG. 8 wherein the filter 122 a is secured to a tube such as 29and the adsorbent containers are loose in the receiver. Also, as notedabove, the filter 122 a may be secured to the elongate tube, whichmounts it on a tube such as 21 of a receiver, by either staking as shownin FIGS. 10 and 13 or by fusion as shown in FIG. 1.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed, it will be appreciated that it is not limited thereto, butmay be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combined filter and adsorbent unit comprisingan elongated tubular member, a filter extending transversely outwardlyfrom said elongated tubular member, a container of adsorbent materialsecured relative to said elongated tubular member, said filtercomprising a grid, a plurality of crossmembers on said grid, open spacesbetween said crossmembers, and filter material secured to said grid. 2.A combined filter and adsorbent unit as set forth in claim 1 including asecond container of adsorbent material secured relative to saidelongated tubular member.
 3. A combined filter and adsorbent unit as setforth in claim 2 wherein said container of adsorbent material and saidsecond container of adsorbent material are secured to each other by ayoke.
 4. A combined filter and adsorbent unit as set forth in claim 1including an outer edge on said grid, an external surface on said outeredge, and a seal member on said external surface.
 5. A combined filterand adsorbent unit as set forth in claim 4 wherein said seal member isan annular flap extending outwardly from said external surface.
 6. Acombined filter and adsorbent unit as set forth in claim 4 including asecond container of adsorbent material secured relative to saidelongated tubular member.
 7. A combined filter and adsorbent unit as setforth in claim 6 wherein said container of adsorbent material and saidsecond container of adsorbent material are secured to each other by ayoke.
 8. A combined filter and adsorbent unit as set forth in claim 1wherein said filter material is secured to said grid on the same side ofsaid grid as said container of adsorbent material.
 9. In a refrigerantreceiver having a housing, a wall on said housing, a refrigerant inleton said housing, a refrigerant outlet on said housing, an elongatedrefrigerant outlet conduit extending lengthwise of said housing incommunication with said refrigerant outlet, and a refrigerant-receivingopening in said elongated refrigerant outlet conduit, the improvementcomprising an elongated tube mounted about said elongated refrigerantoutlet conduit, a filter extending transversely outwardly from saidelongated tube and positioned between said refrigerant inlet and saidrefrigerant-receiving opening in said elongated refrigerant outletconduit, an outer edge on said filter in contiguous relationship withsaid wall, at least one container of adsorbent material in said housing,said filter comprising a grid, a plurality of crossmembers on said grid,open spaces between said crossmembers, and filter material secured tosaid grid.
 10. In a refrigerant receiver as set forth in claim 9 whereinsaid container of adsorbent material is located between said filter andsaid refrigerant-receiving opening in said refrigerant outlet conduit.11. In a refrigerant receiver as set forth in claim 10 wherein saidcontainer of adsorbent material is secured relative to said elongatedtube.
 12. In a refrigerant receiver as set forth in claim 9 including asecond container of adsorbent material in said housing.
 13. In arefrigerant receiver as set forth in claim 12 wherein said container ofadsorbent material and said second container of adsorbent material arelocated between said filter and said refrigerant-receiving opening. 14.In a refrigerant receiver as set forth in claim 13 wherein at least oneof said containers of adsorbent material is secured relative to saidelongated tube.
 15. In a refrigerant receiver as set forth in claim 13wherein said container of adsorbent material and said second containerof adsorbent material are both secured relative to said elongated tube.16. In a refrigerant receiver as set forth in claim 9 including a sealbetween said outer edge of said filter and said wall.
 17. In arefrigerant receiver as set forth in claim 16 wherein said seal is aflap extending outwardly from said outer edge of said filter.
 18. In arefrigerant receiver as set forth in claim 16 wherein said container ofadsorbent material is secured relative to said elongated tube.
 19. In arefrigerant receiver as set forth in claim 18 including a secondcontainer of adsorbent material secured relative to said elongated tube.20. In a refrigerant receiver as set forth in claim 19 wherein saidcontainer of adsorbent material and said second container of adsorbentmaterial are secured to each other by a yoke.